TEN rescued African penguins waddled back to freedom to enjoy the surf of the Indian ocean, after spending months of rehabilitation at the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) at Cape Recife.
These penguins were the last of 103 penguins which were rescued and rehabilitated, after being oiled as a result of about 400 litres of oil spilled during offshore bunkering in Algoa Bay in July this year.
Various other coastal birds affected by the oil, were also caught and rehabilitated at SANCCOB. They were released weeks ago.
The penguins’ release was part of SANCCOB’s 17th Penguin Festival which was held at the Cape Recife centre. The festival is held annually to raise awareness of the endangered African penguin species.
The penguins’ beach release was enjoyed by hundreds of people. Tears rolled as SANCCOB volunteers as well as festival-goers watched the boxes tipping and seeing the birds make their way back to the ocean, diving into the waves and eventually disappering into the deep.
